Package with a resealable closure

ABSTRACT

A package having a resealable closure is disclosed and comprises a body, a frame, a door and apparatus. The body is a bag in which is disposed a product and has an inner surface defining the inner surface of said package. The frame defines an opening and has a surface attached to the inner surface of said package. The door has one edge connected to the frame for swinging movement of said door between a closed position, whereat the door occludes said opening to contain said product, and an open position, whereat the door is orientated to permit access to said product. The apparatus releasably secures the door in its closed position. The material forming the bag can overlie the door and be perforated to define a frangible portion of said material that call be removed or pulled away to permit operation of the door.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/079,191 filed Jul. 9, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of reclosable packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to a package having a rescalable closure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Resealable packages are common in the food industry. Such resealable packages are typically formed from folded and sealed packaging material and represent a convenience to consumers.

In such packages, the feature of resealability is typically provided via the use of a fastener such as a zipper, either of the type which can be releasably closed by pressure or via the use of an auxiliary slider mechanism.

A problem associated with zippers is that bag openings fitted with zippers can be inconvenient to fill and require special machinery for filling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A resealable closure for a package forms one aspect of the invention. The closure comprises: a frame defining an opening, said frame having a surface attached in use to the inner surface of said package; a door having one edge connected to said frame for swinging movement of said door between an closed position, whereat the door occludes said opening, and an open position, whereat the door is orientated to permit access to said opening; and apparatus for releasably securing said door in said closed position. In use, the door can be opened, to provide access to tie contents of said package, and closed, to contain the contents of said package.

According to another aspect of the invention, the door can be connected to said frame by a tongue and groove hinge.

According to another aspect of the invention, the door can be formed integrally with said frame and connected thereto by a living hinge formed integrally with the frame and door.

According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus for releasably securing said door in said closed position can comprise a first mating structure disposed on an inner surface of said door and a second mating structure disposed on said frame, said first mating structure and said second mating structure being configured to mate with each other in frictionally engaged relation to releasably secure said door in said closed position.

According to another aspect of the invention, said first mating structure can be defined by one or more plugs and said second mating structure can be defined by one or more sockets, said plugs being configured to nest within and frictionally engage said sockets.

According to another aspect of the invention, the door can have a projection therein, in an edge other than the edge of the door which is connected to the frame; and the frame can have an indentation therein to permit a user to insert one or more digits beneath the projection to facilitate movement of the door from the closed position towards the open position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the frame can be adapted to be heat sealed to the material which forms the inner surface of said package in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, the frame can be provided with a ledge upon which the door rests when the door is in the closed position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the door can be connected to the frame by a hinge which is hidden from view when said door is in said closed position and said resealable closure is viewed toward said outer edge.

According to another aspect of the invention, when the door is in the closed position, the outer surface of the door can be substantially flush with the surface of the frame which is attached in use to the inner surface of said package.

A package having a resealable closure forms another aspect of the invention. This package comprises: a body containing a product, said body having an inner surface defining the inner surface of said package; a frame defining an opening, said frame having a surface attached to the inner surface of said package; a door having one edge connected to said frame for swinging movement of said door between a closed position, whereat the door occludes said opening, and an open position, whereat the door is orientated to permit access to said opening; and apparatus for releasably securing said door in said closed position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the door can swing outwardly from the closed to the open position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body can include a frangible portion overlying the opening of the resealable closure to provide access to and operation of the door.

According to another aspect of the invention, the frangible portion can be defined and bounded by a perforation through said body.

According to another aspect of the invention, the package can have a substantially flat bottom.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body can include microperforations which allow air exchange while preventing entry of insects or larvae thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention, the opening in the closure can define a pour spout for the package contents.

A method of constructing a blank for a package having a resealable closure forms another aspect of the invention. This method comprises the steps of: providing a bag having an open end and an inner surface which defines the inner surface of the package in use; and inserting a closure according to the invention into the open end of the bag and operatively sealing the closure to the inner surface of the bag.

A method of constructing a package having a resealable closure forms another aspect of the invention. This method comprises the steps of: providing the blank of tie invention; filling the blank with a product; and closing the open end of the bag.

Apparatus for constructing a package having a resealable closure forms another aspect of the invention. This apparatus comprises: apparatus for forming the blank of the present invention; apparatus for filling the blank with a product; and apparatus for closing the open end of the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the releasable closure of the invention according to one embodiment, showing the door in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the closure of FIG. 1, showing the door in the closed position; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a package according to one embodiment of the invention, showing the door of the resealable closure in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is shown a resealable closure 10 with a door 12 in the open position in FIG. 1 and in the closed position in FIG. 2. The door 12 is attached to a frame 14 by a hinge 16 formed integrally with the door 12 and frame 14. The frame 14 defines a central opening Z and has a generally flat outer surface 18 which is configured for attachment to packaging material, such as a film, sheet or web for forming bags. An inner ledge 20 is inset in the frame 14 relative to the outer surface 18. When the door 12 is in the closed position, it rests upon the inner ledge 20. The inner ledge 20 is integrally formed with the frame but could be made from a separate member attached to the frame 14. In certain embodiments, the inner ledge 20 may be continuous around the inside of the central opening Z or in alternate embodiments, the inner edge 20 may be discontinuous or fragmented (not shown), but as illustrated, flanks two edges of the opening Z.

The hinge 16 is connected to one side of the door 12 and provides for reversible swinging movement of the door 12 between the open position shown in FIG. 1 and the closed position shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated, the hinge 16 is a living hinge formed integrally with the door 12 and the frame 14 but the hinge could also, for example, be a tongue and groove-type hinge, or a plurality of tongue and groove type hinges. In some embodiments, the hinge 16 is hidden from view when the door 12 is in its closed position and the closure 10 is viewed toward its outer surface 18. Other means for hinging the door 12 to the frame 14 such as plate hinges, for example, are known to those skilled in the art and may be adapted to the embodiments disclosed herein. Such embodiments are within the scope of the invention.

The door 12 is equipped with a facility for opening the door which, in the illustrated embodiment, is shown as a projection 24 which is integrally formed on the side of the door 12 opposite the side to which the hinge 16 is attached, and an indentation 26 disposed below the projection 24 when the door 12 is closed. This permits a user to insert one or more digits into the indentation 26 beneath the projection 24, to urge the door 12 away from the closed position towards the open position. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure 10 is provided with apparatus for releasably securing the door 12 in the closed position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus is provided by a first mating structure 28 disposed on the inner surface 32 of the door 12 and a second mating structure 30 disposed on the ledge 20 of the frame 14 which are configured to mate with each other to maintain the door 12 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2. The illustrated first mating structure is defined by one or more plugs 28 and the illustrated second mating structure is defined by corresponding sockets 30. Each plug 28 is configured to nest within the corresponding socket 30 in frictionally-engaged relation to maintain the door 12 in the closed position.

In some embodiments, at least the frame of the closure is formed of a plastic material which can advantageously be heat-sealed to the packaging material so that use of an adhesive to fasten the closure 10 to the packaging material is not required.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the closure 10 has a substantially square or rectangular central opening Z. One skilled in the art would recognize that other shapes of the central opening Z may also be constructed such as substantially circular or oval-shaped openings (not shown) which may optionally be in the form of a spout (not shown) that provides for a cleaner pouring action for pourable products. These alternative embodiments are also within the scope of the invention.

In another aspect, there is provided as shown in FIG. 3 an embodiment of a reclosable package 101 for a pourable product. The reclosable package 101 includes a bag 100 and resealable closure 10 as described hereinabove. The bag 100, which is closed but for the closure 10, is formed of any appropriate packaging material, sheet, web or film which is well known to those skilled in the art and has a front wall 102, a rear wall 106, two opposing side walls 108, a flat bottom 110 and a top 112.

The closure 10 is fastened at its outer surface 18 to the inner surface of the bag/package so that when the door 12 is open, access is gained through the central opening Z to the interior of the package 100 and product may be removed or poured therefrom.

In FIG. 3, the package 101 is shown open (via the closure 10), with a tear-away flap 116 separated from the remainder of the bag 100 through the use of a perforation 114. The tear-away flap 116 cannot be resealed without extrinsic sealing means and therefore functions as a tamper-evident closure. The flap 116 defines one type of frangible portion overlying the opening of the closure, but persons of ordinary skill will appreciate that the perforation could equally circumscribe the entire opening, and be completely removed for access to the closure. Alternatively, a package (not shown), could be constructed with a cut-out which is resealably closed only by the closure of the invention. In this embodiment, an alternative form of tamper-evident closure could be provided, for example, by a frangible sealing strip which circumscribes the boundary of the door and frame and is removed by the user to permit operation of the door. Whereas in the illustrated embodiment, the closure is of the type having a living hinge formed integrally with the door and frame, the living hinge could be part of the bag material.

In one embodiment, the packaging material forming the bag or parts thereof includes microperforations (not shown) which allow air exchange while preventing entry of insects or larvae. Such an embodiment is appropriate for products that benefit from air exchange.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for constructing a blank for a reclosable package. In the method, a bag (not shown) of the type used to create the closed bag 100 of FIG. 3 is constructed out of a packaging material using equipment known to those with skill in the art for this purpose. A resealable closure according to the present invention is inserted into the open end of the bag and operatively fastened to the packaging material. This step may be performed, for example by heat sealing the closure to the bag. The open end of the bag is closed in a conventional manner, after filling has been completed. In some embodiments of the method, perforations as described above are provided, to facilitate removal of overlying packaging material from the completed package either as a removable portion or a tear-away flap. In other embodiments of the method, a cut-out is provided in the packaging material which forms the front wall of the completed package, such that the facility is accessible from the outer surface of the front wall without the need to remove any overlying packaging material.

The invention described herein permits the construction of a relatively inexpensive blank which can be filled and closed using conventional machinery for bag filling and closing. For greater certainty, it should be understood that a “blank” means a piece of material prepared to be made into something by a further operation, and in this specification, the “blank” is the bag-like structure having an open end which is filled with product and closed to form the claimed package.

Alternatively, the invention also permits the adoption of the resealable closure of the invention in a form-fill-seal configuration. In this configuration, form-fill-seal apparatus for constructing a package having a resealable closure is provided, and comprises: apparatus for forming a blank according to an embodiment of the invention; apparatus for filling the blank with a product; and apparatus for closing the open end of the bag.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the package described herein are especially but not uniquely useful for storage of any pourable product whether in solid, liquid or gel forms. Such products may include food for humans or animals in either processed or bulk forms, cosmetics, chemicals, adhesives, paints, or any other product benefiting from storage in reclosable packaging.

While various embodiments of this invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described above, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and variations are believed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto, purposively construed. 

1. A resealable closure for a package, said closure comprising: a frame defining an opening, said frame having a surface attached in use to the inner surface of said package; a door having one edge connected to said frame for swinging movement of said door between a closed position, whereat the door occludes said opening, and an open position, whereat the door is orientated to permit access to said opening; and apparatus for releasably securing said door in said closed position, wherein, in use, the door can be opened, to provide access to the contents of said package, and closed, to contain the contents of said package.
 2. The resealable closure of claim 1 wherein said door is connected to said frame by a tongue and groove hinge.
 3. The resealable closure of claim 1, wherein said door is formed integrally with said frame and connected thereto by a living hinge formed integrally with the frame and door.
 4. The resealable closure of claim 1 wherein said apparatus for releasably securing said door in said closed position comprises a first mating structure disposed on an inner surface of said door and a second mating structure disposed on said frame, said first mating structure and said second mating structure being configured to mate with each other in frictionally engaged relation to releasably secure said door in said closed position.
 5. The resealable closure of claim 4 wherein said first mating structure is defined by one or more plugs and said second mating structure is defined by one or more sockets, said plugs being configured to nest within and frictionally engage said sockets.
 6. The resealable closure of claim 1, wherein the door has a projection therein, in an edge other than the edge of the door which is connected to the frame; and the frame has an indentation therein to permit a user to insert one or more digits beneath the projection to facilitate movement of the door from the closed position towards the open position.
 7. The resealable closure of claim 1 wherein said frame is adapted to be heat scaled to the material which forms the inner surface of said package in use.
 8. The resealable closure of claim 1 wherein the frame is provided with a ledge upon which the door rests when the door is in the closed position.
 9. The resealable closure of claim 1 wherein the door is connected to the frame by a hinge which is hidden from view when said door is in said closed position and said resealable closure is viewed toward said outer edge.
 10. The resealable closure of claim 1, wherein, when the door is in the closed position, the outer surface of the door is substantially flush with the surface of the frame which is attached in use to the inner surface of said package.
 11. A package having a resealable closure, said package comprising: a body containing a product, said body having an inner surface defining the inner surface of said package; a frame defining an opening, said frame having a surface attached to the inner surface of said package; a door having one edge connected to said frame for swinging movement of said door between a closed position, whereat the door occludes said opening, and an open position, whereat the door is orientated to permit access to said opening; and apparatus for releasably securing said door in said closed position.
 12. A package according to claim 11, wherein the door swings outwardly from the closed to the open position.
 13. A package according to claim 11, wherein the body includes a frangible portion overlying the opening of the resealable closure to provide access to and operation of the door.
 14. A package according to claim 13, wherein the frangible portion is defined and bounded by a perforation through said body.
 15. A package according to claim 11, having a substantially flat bottom.
 16. A package according to claim 11, wherein the body includes microperforations which allow air exchange while preventing entry of insects or larvae thereof.
 17. A package according to claim 11, wherein the opening defines a pour spout for the package contents.
 18. A method of constructing a blank for a package having a resealable closure, the method comprising the steps of: providing a bag having an open end and an inner surface which defines the inner surface of the package in use; and inserting a closure according to claim 1 into the open end of the bag and operatively sealing the closure to the inner surface of the bag.
 19. A method of constructing a package having a resealable closure, said method comprising the steps of; providing the blank of claim 18; filling the blank with a product; and closing the open end of the bag.
 20. Apparatus for constructing a package having a resealable closure, said apparatus comprising: apparatus for forming the blank of claim 18; apparatus for filling the blank with a product; and apparatus for closing the open end of the bag. 